Cutting-machine.



W. C. BAXTER.

CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. n. 1915.

Patented Jan.21,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET! Fig.1.

,w. c; BA'XTER, CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICAJNN FILED MAR. II. 1915.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MAYA/TUE ZBZ' W/Z'NESSESL I W C. BAXTER. CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION man MAR. 1:. i915.

1,291,726. Patented Jan. 21,1919. I

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

MTl/VESSESL W. C. BAXTER.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1915.

1,291,726. Emma Jan. 21, 1919.

STATES P TEN OFFICE.

WILLIAM c. geix'rnn, or BE vnnmr, mnssionnsnms, Assmnon. BY Mnsnnnssm'nmm'rs, A. CORPORATION OF nnwamzsnm To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Wanna a citizen of the United States, ,re'si'di'iggat' I tate invention, therefore, are to provideim i'oved Beverly, in the county of'Siifiolkand U of lvlassacliusetts, have invented certain Im-* provements in Cutting-Machines, *Of which the following description, in connection with [the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the draw:

are now rials, such as leatherboard, vulcanized 'fiber,

ings indicating like parts in the several figures. p e r This invention relates toeutting machines and is herein shownas embodied in a ma chine. of the type known to the trade as diiikimt, 11180111118 however, that the invention is not restricted either to machines of the illustrated type or to the illustrated constructional details.-

The machine .herein shown is intended for use in cutting blanks from sheet material moved by successive feeding operations into position between the elements of the cutting mechanism. the illustrated cutting mechanism being adapted to cut heel l fts, Besides beim formed from leather, beel lifts Formed from various other mateand so-called pancake stock, and in cutting lineman some of these materials it is frequently ii terialfrom whioh the lifts are immediately to be died from'the sheet as the cutting operation' proceeds, thus avoiding the cutting lifts ar given size. It is also a common intolstri'ps of more material than maygbeneeded to make the required numbe of heel raotibe to out the material into strips before tis presented to the cutting machine, this being, course, necessary when cutting wedgejlifts.

- One'of the objects of the present inventionis topi'ovide a cutting machine of gen- ,eral utility in thedinking field, and particu- 'larly-tq provide an improved out/ting machine-Which can be readily adapted for use either upon strips which have been cut ,lll- "a separatemac hi'ne, or upon material in the rienced in the past in obtaining s ositively It will be understood,

dvanta'geous to separate the ma I'O UNITED SHOE mA CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY,

comma-MACHINE.

wo ends. Further important objects of the )feeding mechanism which will'feed t is inaterigll with great precision and uniformity,

to provide feeding mechanism which "will insure the positioning of tlieleading end of the material, so that the first blank maybe out without snbstantial waste, to provide means to insure. the positioning of thejlast end of the material so that no piece of ma tei'ial of; a size to furnish a complete blank will, I. discarded, to provide ii'nproi ed to provide convenient and certain adpistments whereby;;thevarious mechanisms may be qu k y and easily adapted to the produo' separating from t e sheet the portion of material from which the blanks are out, that the width of the portion from which the blank metyns for controlling the presentation of the material-to the cutting mechanism, 'and Specification pt Letters Pat nt .Patei ted Jan. 21, 1919. Application nieaxar nin si n semi No. 13,878. v a

tiial that there would be no,waste, at the lti is but be as carefully measured and located with respect to the die as the length, using the term width in this expression to"designate thatdimeiisioii of the blank which is transverse to the direction of feed,- and the term length to desi ate the dimension which coincides with t ie direction of feed. Tothis endv the invention aimsfurther to prov'ide improved locati iomeans so that the material from which the blank is cut may 'I e cut to a width approximately equal to the width of the blank, thus avoiding waste in tliisdimension. v a A very. im 'iortant object of'tlje'i invention is to provide a machine which can he'operivhi cli'is both light and strong. An iinpoi tantjeature of this cutting mechanism is a novel cutting lJ lOClQWhlCll liliSHlS a clean. uniform out and scarcely ever requ res re-' sui'facingn An important feat ire of the cutting mechanis n' is the provision of means for secur and Oiitterwith respect to each other in all mined depth into the groove in the block.

Other important features and objects of the invention will appear from the following I description and claims, when considered in "dimensions. In the illustrated preferred construction of the invention the cutting block comprises a metal plate having a definite location upon the cutting block support, and in this metal plate is formed 31 diere ceiving groove having the exact outline'of' the cutting edge 'of the die, this groove being preferably formed after the block and die have both been located in certain definite locations in the machine to which they can always be returned when they are removed for replacement by cooperating blocks and dies of other sizes.

A further important feature of the inv'en tion is the provision for a fine positive adjustment of the limit of approach of the die and block whereby the cutting edge of the die may be caused to enter to a predeterconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention, the work table, waste "chute and one of. the supporting brackets for the Work table being broken away to disclose parts of themachine other wise concealed;-

' Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, of the work feeding and controlling mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2'but showing the table removed and the parts of the feeding mechanism in a different position, and also showing the stock about to be cut;

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail showing the; arrangement of, and the supports for, the

front and rear gages and the stripper mechanism, the gage slide being drawn back;

Fig. 5 is aperspec'tive viewfof the feeding mechanism and the means for operatingit; j

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the feed operating mechanism;

Fig. '3 is a sectional detail illustrating the arrangement of the feed wheel supporting shafts whereby the feed wheels accommodate themselves automatically to variations in the thickness of the stock;

Fig. 8 is a view of themeans for adjusting.

the feed operating mechanism Fig. 9 is a detail view, partly in section, of the roller ratchet which constitutes an I element of the feed operating mechanism;

Fig. 10' is'a vertical section through the front part of the head of the machine, illustrating particularly the construction of. theplunger, block carrier, die, die holder, and the location of the gages withrespect to the 1 die I Fig. 11 isa detail section illustrating; the cutting operation; i

the connection between the.

- Fig. His 21. detail perspective showing the mode of'op'eration of the gate by which the 1 feed of the. leading end'of the stock is controlled Fig. 13 is asectional view illustrating the' arrangement of thebearings for the feed wheel shafts and ofthe toggle which connects the shafts;

I Fig. 14 is a detail perspective showing the eccentric means for operatinguthe sifting chute ;1

F ig. 15 is a plan view of the die and die an eccentric portion 12 serving as a crank. pin to reciprocate a pitman 14' connected to a plunger 16 which carries at its lower end a support l8 f0r a cutting, block '20. The

cutting block 20 is reciprocated by the mechanism ust described into and out of cooperat1ve cutting relation to the upper edge of a die 22 carried upon adie support 24; The

d'ie22 is open at'both ends, and the material to be cut by the die passes through an opening below the die into a chute 26 upon the holder, this View illustrating the manner of I a die having a straight breast under side of the machine, which chute is provided iwith a sifting bottom formed of woven w1re28, whereby waste pieces, such as incomplete lifts, may beseparated from the perfect lifts. The plunger l6 reciprocates in a bearing 30 at the front of the machine, and to prevent the cutting block. from turning, the block sup art 18 is provided with a vertical guide 1'0 32 guided in a bearing 4 34 clamped to the sideof the bearing 30.

The material to be operatedupo'n is fed to thc'cutting mechanism by: feeding means,

shown. particularly in Figs 2- to 7 of thedrawings, the illustrated feeding means comprising toothed feed wheels 36 and 38 fastened upon shafts 40 and 42 which are provided at their rear ends with gears 44 and 46 which mesh respectively with pinions 48 and 50, the pinion 50 being driven from the pinion 48, and the om a gear 52... v a To provlde for'relatlve movements of approach and separation of the feed wheels 36 and 38, in order to accommodate stock of varying thicknesses without disturbing I gears 44, 46 and" the pinions 48, 50, the. feed wheel shafts 4O and-g42 are mounted in bear- ,ing's or supports 54 and 56, respectively,

arranged to swing ebout 'the; axes about pinion 48 being driven which the pinions48 and 50 turn, the bear-- ings or supports 54 and 56 being provided with arms 58 and 60 which are provided with hubs orsleeves' 62 and (is received upon stationary shafts 66 and 68 upon which the pinions 48 and 50 turn, there being one of .two members of the toggle are connected together by a pivot pin 76. I

The feed wheels 36 and 38 are normally kept at their adjusted limit of approach, and provision is made for permitting them to separate yieldingly in order to accommodate different thicknesses of stock or variations in the thg'pkness of the material being acted upon. E To insure maintaining the feed Wheels yieldingly' at their limit of approach arod 7 8 is pivotally connected to the knee joint 76 of the toggles 7 2, 7 4, this rod being surrounded by a spring 80 which bears at one end against a bearing-lug 81 upon the support and, at its other end against a washer 82 confined upon the rod 78 by nuts 84-. To provide for adjusting the limit of approach of the feed Wheels the rod 7 8 has a threaded portion between its ends, and upon this threaded portion is received a nut 86 located between the support 70, and the bearing lug 81, the spring tending to draw this nut up against the bearing lug 9.1 as shown in Fig. 7 and the nut 86 being of such dimensions that there isroom for movement of the nut with the rod 7 8 as the feed wheels are separated.

The gear 52 which drives the pinions 48 and oflyand through them the gears 44 and 4-6 upon the feed Wheel shafts, is intermittently turned in one direction through connections to the driving shaft comprising a roller ratchet,a link 90 and a gear 92 which carries a crank pin by which the linkor pitman.90 is reciprocated, the gear 92 being driven by a gear 94 upon the driving. shaft 10.

' The roller ratchet comprises a roller cage 96 received upon the hub 98 of the gear Wheel 52, this cage beingsurrounded by a clutch ring or casing ILOOCprovided with an ear 102 to which the link 90, by which the ring or casing is, oscillated, is pivotally,connected. The inner surface of the ring or casing .100 is concentric Withthe axis about-which it turns and the rollers 104. of'which six are shown in the drawings, are confined in pockets 1.06 in the cage 96, these pockets orrecesses having 'bottoi'ns 108 eccentric to the inner surface of the ring or casing 100, so

that whenthe ring creasing is turned in one, direction the rollers will look i the cage 96 to the ring or casing 100, whereupon the cage 96'is/turned with sa d ring or casing. When the ring or casing 100 is turned in the reverse direction the. rollers, move toward the larger-end of the pockets, and the casing 100 moves over the cage 96 without turning.

A spring pressed plunger 110 entering each of the pockets 106 tends to move the roller 10* ,toward locking position in the pocket. Connected to the roller cage'96 is a plate 112'which forms one member of a safety connection between the gear 52 and the roller ratchet. Located partly in the 'recessin the face ofthe part 112 and partly in the-'opposed face of the gear 52 are balls 114 which operate to lock the gear.52 to the plate 112 so that said gear is turned with the cage 96 when the roller ratchet is-moved in the operative direction, provision I being made for slippage of the gear 52 over the plate 112 in case of interference with the feeding operation. 52 is mounted upon a shaft 116 which is arranged to move lengthwise in a bearing 118 against the tension of a spring 120 to permit so I The hub 98 of the gearthe balls 114 to moveout of locking relation to the gear 52 .and'the plate 112 when the operation of the feeding mechanism is prevented for any cause. v causes friction between the'roller ratchet and;

The spring 120 also the bearing 118 suflicient to prevent it from,

. turning backward. The crank pin or wrist" pin 122, upon the gear 92, ,by which the link or pitman 90 is reciprocated, is carried upon a sliding block 12% mounted in a guideway 126 extending along the radius of said gear, andthreaded into this block is an adjusting screw 128 so mounted in the gear as to be held against endw se movement and-. 'pro-' vided in one end witha sIot 130 to receive a screw driver :for adjusting the wrist pin or crank pin 122 to vary, the: throw o-fthe pitman 90, and thereby the'amount of turn-1' ing f the gear 52, when it is desired to vary the amount of feed movement imparted to the feeding mechanism of the machine:

In order that the operator may conveniently adjust the length of feed to ,thefsize of the die an indicator 132 is mounted upon the gear 92, this indicator cooperating with a scale 131 and being turned by the engagement of the screw 128 with a worm gear 136 connected to said indicator. The scale 134. may he graduated 1n any suitable manner, as for example in die sizes, so that the fed, this location of the feed wheels being necessary in order that they may be out of r the 'way of the cutting block. The normal feed movement imparted to the feed wheels is preferably just sutlicient to feed the stock far-enough so that a complete lift may be cut from it. To prevent. waste it is necessary; therefore, in feeding the stock into position to cut the t lift, to feed it, only far enough so thatthe leading end will just pass the further'edge "of the die, and to do this provision must be made for feedingthis endof the stock through the distance separates the feed wheels from the inner edge of the die. To this end, as in the machine shown in "United States Letters Patent i\ o.l,ll3,(i99, R. C. Simmans, granted October 13, 1914, means is provided for preventin the introduction of thestock into the fee; mechanism until the feed mechanism is in such position that,

" 138 is intermittently liftedduring the opduring its first-feed movement orthat. part of it which is operative, it will feed the end of the stock to the inner edge of the die so 1 that during the succeeding feed movement the stock will be fed into position to cut the first lift without wasting material at the end of the stock. The illustrated means comprises a gate 138 which is provided with a shoulder 140presenting a front face substantially perpendicular to the plane of the stock and serving as a stop'ior the forward end of the stock. said gate member 138 being also provided with a foot-142 which extends through a slot in the feed wheel 36 and *aidsin guiding and control- ]ing'the stock as it is being'fed. The gate eration of the machine, and the illustrated means for lifting the gate comprise a link l-H pivotally connected atits lower end to a lug lfi ru'pon said gate and pivotally connected at its upper end to an arm H8 upon a rock shaft 150 upon'the side of the machine head. said rock shaft being provided with another arm 152 carrying a r0 1 154 bearing against an edge cam 156, a spring 158, coiled about said rock shaft and connected to a pm 160 upon said rock shaft and at its other end hooked over the bearing lug 162 for said shaft, tendin'g'tomove the gate down into operative posit-ion and at the same time'hold the roll 15L against the cam 156. It will thus be seen that the gate is yieldingly depressed into operatiye position but is positive ly' raised. The atolis guided in-a guideway 164, and the lug .146 projects through a slot in the frontwall ofsaid guideway.

Cotiperating withthe foot/142 upon said gate in guiding and controlling the stock 1s a spring member 166 whlch is received at its forward endinanotch 168 in a stripper member 170, the spring'member being so shaped and arranged that it tends/co rise above the notch 168 which is of such dimensions'that when said member is in said notch the upper surface is substantmlly flush \\'ltll the'upper surface of the. stripper member.

Thus when the stock is being introduced into the machine the spring member 166 tends to liftits forward edge both above the stripper member 170 and above the edge of the die. The spring member 166 extends beneath the stock supporting table 172 and at its end remote from the feeding mechanism is connected to a member 17% pivotally mounted upon the under side of said table '172, a coiled spring 176, surrounding a stud 178 upon the under side of said table, tending to press said member 166 up against the under side of said table with a pressure which varies with the adjustment of a nut 180 threaded upon said stud 178.

In order that the last end of the stock may be brought into such position that a lift may be cut therefrom when the piece left is large enough to make a. complete lift, means is provided for pushing; this piece over the die 22 as said piece s re.

leased by the feed wheels. The illustrated means comprises a pairof pusher fingers 182 which normally bear upon the under side of the stockbut do not in any way codperate in the normal feeding operations of the machine. These fingers are moved to and fro toward and away from the die 22 and in their extreme position away from the die have their forward ends so located that they may engage the rear end of'the last 'upon an oscillating support 192 fulcrumed at 1&4 upon a: bracket 196 upon the side of the die support. said support 192 being oscillated to move the fingers toward and away from the die 22 by connections to the main driving shaft. The operating connections for\the fingers comprise a link 198 pivotally connected at its respective ends to said support-"192 and to an arm 200 upon a rock shaft 202 which extends to the rear of the machine and'is there provided with a second arm 204 connected by a link 206 with an arm 208 upon'another rocli shaft 210 upon the sidefofthe machine head remote from that upon which the rock shaft- 202 is located, said rock shaft 210 being provided with a second arm 212 carrying a roll 214 bearing against the edge of an eccentric or cam 216 which is attached to the shaft 218 upon which the gear 92 is mounted and to which it is connected, the gear 92 being driven by the main shaft in the manner cam or eccentric 210 and to move the fingers 182 in the direction to feed the stock.

The eccentric 216 thus operates to move the fingers 182 positively in the direction of' the c; rrier 236and 1s moved downwardly the return movement of the fingers.

The material to he cut is guided to the feeding and cutting mechanisms by an edge guide upon the table 172,.said edge guide having an overhanging flange 224 near its forward end which serves iQ'Q'llhlG the leading end of the material as ltf'lS being presented tothe machine. To insure the, posltu'ming of the leading end of the material against the shoulder 140 of thegate 138 an adjustable guard for the upper feed roll is provided, said guard being carried upon a slide 228 adjustably held upon the front of the guideway 164 for the gate 138 a set screw 230. The edge of the ma means for yieldingly supporting the carrier 236 comprises shouldered bolts 238 arranged to slide in vertical guides 240 in which springs 242 are confined between the ibottomsof said guides and the shoulders on blanks out may be easily forced down through the (he; and, therefore, the cutting edge at the die must be formed by beveling the outer faces of the die to this edge. To "provide for the location of the stock by the edge gage 232 so close to the cutting edge of the die that there will be substantially no Waste in. cutting said stock and at'the same time to provide for the movement 'of this gage downward during the cutting operation, means is shown for causing the gage to move laterally asvit-is moved downwardly.

- The illustrated means comprises a link 24:4

threaded upon said bolt- 246 and confined between the rear face of the machine head and a bracket bolted upon said head, is used for adgusting the gage. .The slide /sutlicie'ntly to permit the gage 232 to 'over tlyl/Q inclined outer face of the die. The

2531-, link 244i and bolt 246 are in substantially the same horizontal plane when the carrier 236 at the upper limit of its movement, and therefore, as the gage 232 is forced downwardly by the cutting block 20, tlie'swinging of the link244 about its pivot on the bolt 246 will draw the slide 234 back pass stripp 1" member 170- is also mounted upon as the material to be cut is forced down upon tl1e die by the cutting block 20. To provide for adjustment of the stripper ,uember 170 toward and away from the die,

the bracket in which the guides 240 are formed is confined upon the front of the head2 with provision for lateral adjustment, said bracket being provided with a dovetailed guideway 254 which receives the squared head 256 of a bolt 258 extending through the head and having upon its rear end 'a nut 260 which presses a washer 262 against the rear face of the head 2 and draws the bracket up against the front face of the head. Rabbets 26% upon either side of the guidcway or groove for the bolt 258 are received in a horizontal groove in the front face of the head 2 and serve to guide the bracket 252 in its lateral movements of ad-- justment. A plate 266 (Fig. 1) fastened upon the left hand end of the bracket.- 252 (tll'l'lQS a screw 268 bearing against'a sideof the head 2, said screw serving as a stop to determine the location of the bracket 252 when it has been adjusted, and also to effect such adjustment. A look nut 270 holds the screw 268 in the desired position of adjust: ment. i

The machine herein shown is designed to be used either for operating upon stock in sheets or for operating upon strips. VV hen operating upon strips which have been cut 272 is removed, and means is providedfor sei iarating the material which is to be operated upon by the dle from the remainder of the sheet as the material is being fed to the die cutting mechanism. v

The illustrated means for stripping the stock as it is being fed to the die comprises corrugated cutting disks 2% and 276 upon the respective shafts {it and 42, these disks overla 'iping, the upper disk being of a diameter greater than the diameter-of the feed roll 36, and the lower disk being of substantially the diameter of the feed roll 38. This,

arrangement of the disks permits the die,

which is on the same side of the plane of the material as the lower feed roll, to be positioned close to the rolls without interfercorrugations are provided upon the disks to prevent the disks, as they engage the stock somewhat in advance of the engagement by the periphery of the feed rolls, from retard ing the feeding action of the feed rolls by ofthe feed rolls when it is desired to use the machine with a die which wlll ciit twoj; blanks at once, or when, for any reason, it

is desired to cut from the sheet a wider strip.

To support the sheet as it is being presented to the feeding and stripping mechanism, a table 282 is provided in front of the table 172, this table being supported upon brackets 26% and 286 upon the front of the v.machinc frame. To guide the front edge of the material to be cut as it is passing over the die, an'edge gage 288 is-provided, this gage being mounted upon an arc-shaped slide 290 arranged to slide in an aroshaped guideway iii a gage support 292 adjustably mounted upon a bracket 294 at the front of the machine frame, the support being confined upon said bracket by bolts 296 passing through slotted openings in said support. A spring 300 maintains the slide 290 normally in its operative relation to the die and perniits the slide to move downwardly during 7 charged the cutting operation, the shape of the slide providing for the proper movementof the gage over the inclined outer face of the die.

The lifts or other blanks cut from the material, as hereinabove pointed out, are disdownwardly through the die, through an opening 302 in the die carrier and through a corres xinding opening in the machine frame into a sifting chute 26-which sifts out the imperfect lifts from the perfect lifts. To provide for this sifting operation the chute is pivotally mounted at its front end upon a rod 304 confined in bosses 806 and 308 upon the brackets 284 and 286, and at its rear end is supported by a frame 310 connected to a reciprocating rod 312 by a spring 314, said rod being reciprocated by a wrist pin 316 (Fig. 14) adjustably-confined V in the slot 318 extending along the diameter of the shaft 10 at the rear end of said shaft, the slot being" formed in a disk 320 confined upon the hub of the pulley or fly wheel 322. By adjusting the Wrist pin-316 along the slot '318 the amount :of shaking'action given to the sifting chute 26 can be varied to meet the requirements of the work. A loose pulley 324 upon the shaft 10 receives the belt by which the machine is driven when it is desired to stop the machine, and this belt maybe shifted totho pulley 322 connected to the shaft- 10 by any suitable belt shifting mechanism. The waste from the cutting operation is received in a chute 326 and dischargcd into any suitable receptacle.

The illustrated cutting block 9.6 is prefer adjustment of the block, the plunger 16 -wh1ch carries the block is constructed as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. The plunger 16 is preferably hollow upon its inside, except for a cross partition which separates the upper port-icn from the lower portion, and through the center of this partition 332 extends the stem of a swivel block having ears 336 between which is pivoted at 338 the pitinan The stem 334 of the swivel is confined against vertical movement in the partition by a screw 310 screwed into the lower end of said stem and having a head. which bears against a washer on the lower side of said partition. The lower part of the plunger 16 is threaded to receive the threadcd'stein 3441 of the block support 18 and is split at 3% so that said block support may be clamped in its different positions of adjustment. To effect this clamping action a split ring surrounds the split portion of the plunger 16, and extending from this ring adjacent to the opening through its circumference are two wings or lugs 356 connected by a bolt 352 by which the ring may be contracted to cause it to force the split portion of the plunger 16 into clamping relation to the in a direction to loosen the ring 348 upon. the

plunger 16, a flange 3551 upon the plunger preventing the ring from dropping off, and the plunger is then turned n a direction to cause it to screw up or down upon the stein 34 1-. i

In practice the groove 330 in the cutting block ispreferably formed in the machine in which the die and block areto be used. This formationcf, the groove may be effected in the following manner: The'die having been located in the machine with reference to certain fixed points hereinafter to' be referred to, and the block having been located in its support with reference to certain other fixed points hereinafter to be referred tO,"i/ile-S11pcenters one of the holes 884 in the die carrier Q-i'and serves to determine-*tlie angular into the block 20. The support is then adjusted so that a further out will be made.

into the block, and this operation is repeated several times until a groove of the desired depth is obtained, after which the. block carrier is adjusted so that in the normal operation of the machine the cutting edge of the die will not come quite to the bottom of the groove. 7 By the formation of a groove in this manner there is obtained in this machine substantially a shearing action upon the stock, and the cutting up of the surface of the block, incident to cutting operations in ordinary machines, is avoided.

To provide for the accurate location of the groove in the block 20 and of the die 22 in the machine so that interchangeable dies and cooperating cutting blocks may be provided whereby different sizes and shapes of lifts may be cut, the cutting block 20 is carried upon a dove-tailed slide 354 which is received in a corresponding guide'way in the block carrier-'18, a gib 356 being located upon one side of said guideway and being pressed into engagement with the slide 354 .by means of set screws-357 to insure the location of the slide with its side pressed against the other side of said guideway, the last-mentioned side of said guideway being always in a definite location in the machine. The block carrier slide is thus located in one dimension in the plane ofthe cutting surface. Its location i'n-the other dimension is effected by means of a locking pin 358 spring pressed by asprin'gv360 normally toward locking engagement in a socket in the blockslide. a'hand pilhce 364 being provided by which, the pin "may be lifted out of the socket when it is desired to remove the block.

The die 22 is mounted in a die carrier 24, wluch is shown particularly in Figs. 1, 10

15 and 16, this carrier beingsubstantially circular 1n out-hue and being provlded WllllL *of the die is forced by means of a slidable clamp member 372 confined upon the upper surface by bolts 374 passing through slots 376 in said clamp member. The slots 376 and bolts 374 serve to* guide the clamp member 872 as it is forced toward the abutment 370 by a clamp operating screw 378. threaded through the head 380 of a screw A pin 383 upon themachine frame position of the die carrier 2%lfin'vthe opening :368; 'Tlie die carrier 241s providethwith three beveled clamping surfaces 385 adapt ed to be engaged by the correspondingly beveled upper endof'a clamping yoke 38? which is held iii clamping" position by a. square-headed screw 886.

In Fig. 15 of the drawings is shown a die having an ordinary straight breast, and

when a die of this outline is to be employed it is preferably placed in the machine with the straight breast edge toward the front whereby it substantially coincides with .one of the straight sides of the strip from which the blanks are to be cut. In the illustra ed machine is shown a straight-breasted 'die having this edge placed toward the front, and the corner 388 of the die always has the same location in the machine. This location is insured by a pin 390 which passes through one of two openings 39- in the abutment 370 and into an opening in the breast end of the die.

Vhen a die of the shape shown in Fig. 16 is to be employed, that is, a die having a curved breast edge, the die is preferably so located that the curved breast edge is in the line of feed,.whereby the convex rear edge of the die may enterinto the convex end left upon the stock from the preceding die cutting operation, or. if the die be turned around. the concave breast end of the die may embrace the concavity left from the preceding cutting operation, thus effect ing a substantial saving in stock. In the illustrated machine this die-is preferably located with the breast edge presented to the direction of feed, the die carrier 2% being turned through an'angle of and the hole 394 being used to locate the corner 396 of this die, which is the point upon this die that has the fixed location in the machine. a

lVhcn dies of different sizes are used it is necessary to change the amount of feed movement imparted to the stock feeding mechanism, and as her'einabovc pointed out more the block 124: in and out along the radius of the gear 92, the scale 134 being so graduated that when a die of a certain size is placed in the machine the machine may be set to feed the stock the proper dist-ance by simply turning the screw 130 until the indicator 132 points to the proper indication on the scale 134. inasmuch as the feeding machanism is at one side of the die so that the leading end of the stock is not this is done by turning the screw th ita such part of the feed movement of this mechanism remains as is sutlicieni to bring the leading end of the stock to the edge of the die, the stock being prevented from entering the feeding mechanism by the gate 138, against the shoulder llO of which the leading end of the stock is pressed until the gate is raised after the feed rolls 3% and 38 have started their feeding movement. When the amount of feedlng movement of the feed rolls 3t; and 38 is changed by the adjusting meanshcreinabove described it is necessary also to change the time of the lifting of the gate 138 in order to inposition to lift the gate at the proper time with this adjustment of the feeding mechanism. In making these adjustments of the machine the shaft 10 is turned into such position that the index mark402 on the front of theeccentric 12 registers with the index mark on the eccentric sleeve.

The operation of the machine as a whole will now be described. The strip or sheet of material to be out is placed upon the table 172 with its ed e against the edge guide 2-22, the guide 2 2 being removed if the. machine is to operate upon sheets, in which case: a part of the sheet is supported by the table, The end of the sheet is then moved toward the feed rolls 36 and 38, and if the feed rolls have not arrived at that part of their feed movement at which the beginning of the feeding, of the material should take place,- the end of the strip or sheet will come against the shoulder 140 upon the gate 138.

Tit-will be noted that an important feature of invention is the construction of the gate and theiocation of the shoulder, by

1 of a slot in the upper feed roll. h Wl ch the extends, so that this shoulder is approximately at the point where the d rolls rip th ock when the e; la '"t hus the operator. by pressing to or sheet against the gate, ice/t or strip a tendency to litted.

more h ght distance which is necessary to "mg. 1 into the hold of operation of the feed rolls when the gate is hited. This permits the machine to be operated at abi'iuer speed than prior constructions With- 'oat danger of variable operation owing to the failure of the operator to move the strip or sheet quickly enougl into the field of operation of the feed rolls-after the gate is lifted to obtain the full feeding effect from the remainder of the feed movement of the teed rolls. As hereinabove pointed out. the gate is lifted at such a time, in the movement of the feed rolls that during the suc ceeding full feed movement the leading end of the. stock will be fed to the farther edge of the die, overlapping this edge only sailieiently to insure a full blank. but not far enough to cause any substantial waste of material.

Il \\'lll be seen that after the gate has been lifted to permit the leading end of the stock to enter the feeding mechanism. upon its next descent it will press upon the upper surface of the stock and its extension l-l l will serve to guide and control the stock as it is fed to the cutting mechanism, and that in this guiding and controlling operation itcotiperates with the spring member 166. After the first blank has been cut, each succeeding feeding operation of the feed rolls 36 and 38 feeds the stock far enough to provide material fora complete blank without waste. This operation will be. repeated until the end of the material has passed out of the,

field of operation of the feed rolls.

Inasmuch as it is not possible to locate the cooperating feeding surfaces of the feed rolls immediately adjacent to the cutting, edge of the die, and thus it might happen that a piece of material large enough to make a complete blank would be left with its leading edge only part way across the die, provision has been made for moving this last piece of material so that the last end of the material will be moved into close proximity to the nearer edge of the die, thus insuring the cutting of a complete blank from this last piece, provided the last piece is large. enough to form a complete blank. This means as hereinbetol'e describedcomprises the fingers 182 which are normally pressed down into the slots in the lower feed roll 38 while the strip or sheet is being fed through them by the feed rolls these fingers being oscillated only after the feeding movement of the feed rolls has ended, whereby they can spring into position behind the end of the strip or sheet and push this last piece into position in the cutting mechanism after the feed rolls have ceased to act upon this piece. it, as above pointed out, the machine is o 'ierating upon a sheet of material, during each feeding operation a portion of the sheet of substantially the width of the blank to be out will be severed from the main 1. In a machine of the class described, out:

. lcngt I I 4. In a machine of the class described,

cutting means for feeding material into po-- sition to be cut by said cutting means. and means for engaging the end of the material as it leaves said feeding means and pushing it toward said cutting means.

2. In a machine of the class described, cutting means, means spaced from said cutting means for feeding measured lengths of material into position to be operated upon by said cutting means, and auxiliary means, operating upon said material after it has ceased to be operated upon by the feeding means, for moving the portion of the material between said feeding means and said cutting means into position to be operated upon by said cutting means.

3. In a machine of the class described, cutting means. feeding means at one side of said cutting means operating to feed measured lengths of material into position to be cut, and means operating on said mate- 'rial after it leaves the feeding means to insure the movement into position for the operation thereon of the cutting means of the last piece which comprises said measured cutting means, means comprising a feed roll for feeding material into position to be opcratcd upon by said cutting means, and other means for feeding said material, cffcctivc for this purpose from the point where said material is operated upon by said fced roll to a point substantially at the point of operation of said cutting means.

5. In a machine of the class described, cutting means, means comprisinga feed roll for feeding material into position to be operated upon by said cutting means, and rtwi procating material feeding means operating. between said cutting means and the point at which said fccd roll engages said material.

(3. In a machine of the class described, mca'ns for cutting blanks from shcct matcrial, means comprising a pair of feed rolls for feeding material to said cutting means. and means arranged to engage the rear end ,of the sheet as it leaves said feed rolls for completing the movement of said end ipto position for the operation of said cutting means.

7. In a machine of the class described. means for cutting blanks from sheet material. means comprising fccd rolls for feeding measured lengths of material into position to be cut, and a pusher arranged to engage the end of the sheet of material as it leaves said feed rolls andopcratiug after the feeding movemen. of said t'ced rolls is completed to move said end of the sheet into close proximity to the cutting means.

'8. In a machine of'the class described. cutting meaus mcans for feeding material into position be operated upon by said cutting means, and auxiliary. normally inoperative feeding means acting upon said material after said tinst-mentioned feeding means ceases to act thereon to complete the movement into operative position of said material.

9. In a machine for successively cutting a plurality of blanks from a strip or sheet of material, blank cutting means, means for feeding successive portions of said strip or sheet into position to be operated upon by said cutting means, said means operating upon said strip at a point spaced from said cutting means, and other mains, normally held in inoperative position by the strip or sheet, for completing the movement of the strip or sheet into position in said cutting means.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with cutting means, and m ans. comprising feed rolls. for feeding the material to be cut to said cutting means. of

means arranged to operatc between and beyond said feed rolls for moviug thc material to ald said cutting mcans after it has left said feeding means i 11. In a machiji ef the class described, the combinationwith cutting means, and means comprising feed rolls for feeding material into position to be cut by the cutting means, of means. arranged to operate after said feeding means ceases to operate on the material. to move said material through the space between the cutting means and the point at which the feeding means ceases to operate on said material. i

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with cutting means. and

feeding means comprisinga t'ecd roll lo catcd at one side of the cutting means. of a finger arrzmgcd to engage the near edge of thenaltcrlal. and means for causingsaid linger to move the material through thc space between the point at which it leaves the feed roll and the cutting means.

13. In a machine of the class described, cutting means comprising a die. means for feeding measured lengths of material into position to be cut by the die. said feeding means being spaced from said die. and means for moving the last end of said material int close proximity to thc ncarcr edge of the die.

H. In a machine. of the class described, feeding mechanism comprising fccd rolls arranged to engage opposite faces of the mate rial to be fed. and a pushing linger yieldingly pressed normally toward operative position. one of said rolls being provided with a groove in which said lin cr is received while the material is being tcd by said feed rolls.

15. In a machine of the class described. cutting mcans'. means comprising a feed roll for feeding material to be cut to said cuttingv ranged to engage the rear edge of the material and to move it through the space be: tween the point at which it leaves said feed roll and saidcuttin'g. means.

16. Ina machine of the class described,

feeding means comprising a pair of feed j rolls arranged to engage the material upon.

its opposite faces, and a pushing finger operating in grooves in said feed the end of the material.

17; In a machire of the class described, cutting means, means comprising a feed roll for feeding material to be cut to said cutting v means, and means supported upon the side of said feed roll remote from the cutting means and movable past said feed roll to effeet a feeding operation between the point at which said feed roll acts'upon the material and said cutting means. Y

I 18. In a machine of the class described,- cutting means, means comprising a feed roll the last end of the material into position to I be cut, said feed roll being provided with a groove int which said means enters as it moves into operative position. a

20. In a'machine of the class described, feed mechanism comprising coiiperating 'fee'd rolls, and a pushing finger arm-nged to engage the end of the material as it is leaving said feed rolls, one of said rolls having a groove nto which said finger may be pressed as the material passes through said rolls.

21 1111 amachine of the class described, feeding mechanism comprising a feed roll, and a stop for controlling the presentation of the material to be fed to said feed roll, said stop presenting an acting face in substantially perpendicular relation to the path of movement of the material and immediately adjacent to the point at which the feeding surface of said roll engages the material, the :stop being movable out of said location while the material is held against it in order to permit the presentation of the material to the feeding mechanism.

252. In a machine of the class described, feeding mechanism comprising a feed roll. a stop for controlling the presentation of the material to be fed to ,said feed roll and c against which theend of said material may be thrust, said stop having its acting face substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ,material immediately adjacentto the point at which the feedingsurface of said rolls to engage against which the iphteialtofbe fed is thrust, said stopyhavilig it acting face sub- 1 gages thematerial toffeed it, and means for whereby said rolls may be permitted to enroll engages the material to feed it, and means for automatically moving said stop out of the path of the feeding movement of said material.

23. In. a machine of the class describcd,- feeding mechanism comprising a feed roll, means for. intermittently turning said feed roll," a' stop for controllip the resentation of the material to be fed said Led roll and stantially perpendici aixto'the plane of the material immediately adjacent to the point at which the fe'edingsurface of said roll enautomatically moving said stop outof vthe way of the material at a redet'erm-i-ncd time,

in the operation of said ed roll.

24. Inamachine of 'the class described,

feedingmechanism comprising cooperating feed rolls, and a gate presenting a stopsura face against which the-material to be fed is thrust and another surface for guiding the material after it enters the feed rolls, said stop surface lgion saidQg ate being located immediately. a jacent, to the point at which the feeding surfaces of said .rolls cooperate to engage and'feed the stock and said gate being constructed and arranged to be lifted to permit the end of the stock tov be engaged by said cooperating feedingsurfaces.

25. In a machine ofthe class described,

feeding mechanim' comprising cod crating feed rolls. one of which is provide with a peripheral slot, and a gate located in said slot, presenting a stock locating shoulder in immediate proximity to the point at which I the cooperating feeding surfaces of said rolls engage thestock to be fed and movable in said slot out of the path of said stock,

gage and feed said stock.

26. In a machine of the class described,

cutting means, means for feedingmeasured lengths of material to said cutting means,-

the time of presentation of the leading and of the materialto said feeding'means, said gate being PI'OVldGd with another face. which serves as a guide for said material after it 115. enters said feeding means.

27. In a machine ofthe class described, cutting means comprising a die, automatic means for feeding meas'ureddengths of material to be cut to said die constructed to Efeedthe leading end of the material to a point inclose proximity to the farthenedge of the die, and automatic means for feeding L the lastend of the material, whatever thelength of said material, in a point in close 126'- proximity to the nearer edge of the die.

28. In a machine of the class described, a,

the combination with cutting means comprising a die, of means spaced from said die for feeding measured lengths of material to 130 and means coinprisinga gate for controlling eration of said feeding means constructed an cause said feeding means to feed the leading end of the material to a point in close proximity to the farther edge of the die, and means for moving the last end ofsaid material to a point in close proximity to the nearer edge of the die. I

29. In a machine of the class described, in combination with cutting mechanism comprising a blank cutting die constructed and arranged to be interchanged with dies of other sizes, means for feeding measured lengths of material to said cutting mecha nism adjustable to suit its feeding movement,

to dies of difierent sizes, and means for controlling the time of presentation of the material to be cut to said feeding means in such manner as to insure cutting the first blank without waste, said means being also adjustable to suit its timing to the adjustment of the feed mechanism, said adjustments being graduated in die sizes.

30. In a machine of the class described, cutting means, feeding means located at a measured distance to one side of said cutting means, means for operating said feeding means to feed the material-to be cut uniform measured distances, means for preventing the leading end of the material to be cut from entering said feeding means until a part of the feed movement corresponding to the difference between said measured dis means.

31. In a machine of the class described, cutting means comprising a blank cutting die, means located in advance of and closely adjacent to said cutting means for feeding.

measured lengths of material into position to be cut, and means for cutting the material into measured widths connected to and operating with said feeding means.

32. In a machine of the class described. cutting means comprising a blank cutting die, intermittently operated means for feeding measured lengthsof material to the cutting means, and strip cutting means located in advance of the firstqnentioned cutting means and operated by said feeding means.

33, In a machine of the class described, dieing-out means, intermittmitly operated feed rolls located in advanveof the dicingout means and operative for fccdingmcasurcd lengths of materialinto position to be cut by the dieing out means, and rotatable strip cutting means located in advance of the dicing-out means and connected to and operated from said feeding means.

34. In a machine of the class described, cutting means comprising a blank cutting die, means for feeding measured lengths of material to the cutting means, and means connected to and operating in time relation to said feeding means for cutting a straight edge along the material to be fed in advance of the operation of the blank cutting die.

35. In a machine" of the class described.

cutting means comprising a blank cutting die operating across the path of feed of the material to be cut, feeding means comprising feed rolls, means for operating said rolls to feed measured lengths of material into position to be cut by the blank cutting die. and cotiperating cutters at the ends of said feed rolls for cutting the material into meas-, ured widths as it is fed to the blank cutting die.

36. In a machine for cutting blanks from sheet material,- a blank cutting die. mcans for feeding measured lengths of material into position to be cut by said blankcutting die, and means associated with said feeding means and operating in time relation there to for cutting a measured width of material from the sheet to be operated upon as said material is fed to said blank cutting die.

37. In a machine of the class described, cutting means, mcans for feeding measured lengths of material to said cutting means, stripping means so mounted upon said feeding means that it cuts from the material fed that which lies outside of the field of operation ofsaid cutting means, and means for engaging the end of the strip thus finally severed and moving it farther along the line of feed after it leaves said feeding means.

38. Work feeding mechanism for sheet material comprising feed rolls, shafts upon which said feed rolls are mounted. a toggle connected at its ends to the respective shafts, means operating upon said toggle for yieldingly maintaining said shafts in predetermined relation to each other. aml means for varyin said prcdctprnlined relation.

39. Vork feeding mechanism for sheet material comprising feed rolls, means comprising a toggle for moving said rolls toward and away from each other, adjustable means for positively limiting the movement of the toggle in one direction, and means for yicldingly preventing its movement in. the other direction.

40. Means for feeding sluwt-material com prising feed rolls. driving means to which said rolls are independentlyconnected and .by which they are turned in unison. and

42. ll'lechanism for feeding sheet material comprising a pair of cooperating feed rolls, driving means tor said rolls to which they 43. Means for feeding sheet material comprising eooperatin feedrolls, pinions eon nected tosaid fee rolls. and gears forjop erat ing saidpinions, said feed rolls bei'xrg' adjustable toward and from each other about theaxes of :-'saidgears..'

44. Work feeding; mechanism for sheet material comprising cooperating feed rolls, shafts onjwlneh said rolls are mounted,

swinging supports for said shafts, .pinions npon said shafts, and gears for-operating said pinions arrangerl to turn about axes comelding with the axes about wlneh said sup-.

ured lengths of material tojsaid cutting.

i prising feed rolls, pinions"connected to said feed rolls, gears for operating said pinions. and means for moving said -feed.rolls toward and away from-each other .constructed to more said rolls about the axes of. said gears.

46. In a machine of ,the (lassdescribed. feeding means comprising feed rolls. means for intermittently turningsaid feed rolls comprising-a roller ratchet.mechanism. aml connections between said roller ratchet and said-feetl rolls constructed to slip when the" free turning of said feed rolls is prevented. 47. In a machine oi the-class. described. feeding mechanism comprislm a feed roll.

positively driven means for intermittently: turning said feed roll. aml connections bc-. tween said means aml saul feed roll-coustructed to slip when the -t'ree turning otisa'id feedroll is prevented.

cutting mechanism. means for'feeding measmechanism. positively operated means tor operating said feeding means. aml -ionnew tions between said positively operated means and said .feeding means constructed.to slip when more than a predetermined resistame is offered to the. feeding movement of said 7 I feeding means.

' 49. In a machine of tlle class described. a stationary die, a cutt ng bloclemovable toward and away from said die. means for feeding measured lengths of. n'iaterial. over saidfldie, a stripper located between said feedin means andsaid.die.-and meansarrang cntting'operation for guidin" the leading rdi. 50.111 5:

mg supportsffinsaid shafts at one side-of driving member of 48... In a machine of the class .dascrilwd.

to yield into said stripper during the. end ofthe materialover saitf stripper and machine of the class described.

the combination with cutting means and feedrolls to feed measured lengths of material intoposition to be operated upon by said cutting means. of means extending be- .tween and beyond said feed rolls toward said cutting means for supporting and guiding the material operated upon by said feed rolls. 1 L

51. In a machine of the class described, the combination with cutting means and feed rolls constructed and arranged to feed'measnred len ths of i'natcrial to said cutting means, 0 means. extending between and be- .f'yond said feed'rolls toward said cutting means and arranged to engage the material upon both faces. for guiding and control ling the presentation to the cutting means of the .material fed by said feeding means.

52; In a machine of the class described. the combination with cutting means and .means. comprising feed rolls. for feeding measured lengths of material to said cutting means. of means extending between and beyond said feed rolls toward said cutting means 'and arranged to engage the material upon both faces for. guiding and controlling ,the presentation to the cutting means of the material fed by said feeding means, and means arranged to be moved betweenand ot' the material fed and moving it through the space between said cutting means and the point where said material leaves said feed rolls. l

53. In a machine of the classdescribed. the combination with cutting means. of means forfeeding measured lengths of ma- ;terial to said cutting means. means 'comprising a roller ratchet mechanism vfor operating said feeding means. said ratchet mechanism comprising a driving member.

means for varying the movement of the said roller ratchet mechanism. and means controlled by the sired variation in said movem nt.

' .34; In a machine of the (fla s described. cutting means comprising a die. a die stripper. and a gage. said stripper aml gage normally projecting beyond the plane of the cnttingedge of the die aml bcing arranged to yield through said plane during the cuti ling operation. said gage being movable relatively to said stripper during aid cutting operation; I I

Y i lira machine of theclass described. cutting means comprising a die. and gages beyond said t'eed rolls foreiigaging the endlast-mentioned means for indicating the deupon opposite sides of said die for locating the material to be cut. said gages pro ecting 56. In a machine of the class described, cutting means comprising a die, a die stripper, gages upon opposite sides of said die for locating the material to be cut, said stripper and said gages projecting normally beyond the plane of the cutting edge of said die and being'arranged to yield through said plane during the cutting operation, said gages and said stripper being relatively movable during the yielding movement. I

57. In a machine of the class described, cutting means, means for feeding the mate rial to be cut to said cutting means, a gage against which the edge of a sheet of material may be placed as it is presented to said feeding means, means, connected 'toand 0p erated from said feedingi'neans. for severinga measured width of material from said sheet as it is fed, a gage upon one sidcof said cutting means in line with said beforementioned gage, and a gage upon the other side of said cutting means in line with said severing means 58. In a blank cutting machine, a die having an outer face which slopes outwardly from the cutting edge, a gage located in close proximity to said cutting edge for locating the material to be cut upon said die, said gage being movable during the cutting operation transversely to the plane of said cuttingedge and being guided for movement obliquely to said plane over said sloping outer face.

59. In a blank cutting machine, a die having outer faces which slope outwardly from the cutting edge, means for feeding material to be cut to said die, means for center ing the material over said die comprising gages upon opposite sides of the path of feed of the'material in close proximity to the cutting edge of said die, and n ans for yieldingly maintaining said gages in operative relation to the die constructed toguidc said gages obliquely out of said operative relation during the cutting operation.

60. In a machine of the class described, the combination with cutting means comprising a die and a die block, of feeding means comprising feed rolls located at one side of said die, a die stripper located betweensaid feed rolls and said die, and means for pushing the end of the material between the point at which said material leaves said.

.feed rolls and the cutting mechanism, said stripper being provided with a recess in which said pushing means is received.

61. In a machine of the class described, a. cutting block ha'ving formed therein a. permanent, shallow,' dic-1 'ccci\'ing groove ,Whieh has the contour of the cutting edge of said die, the material of which said block is formed being sn hciently resistant to the pressure of the trek to insure the permacutting die, and a metallic cutting block.

having formed therein a dicreceiving groove shaped to fit the cutting edge of said die, and means for effecting a relative cutting movemcnt of said die and said. block, constructed to cause the cutting edgeof said die to enter said groove.

(33. In a machine of the class described. a metal cutting bloch having formed therein a die receiving groove shaped both in out.- line and in section to fit the cutting edge of the die with which said block cooperates.

(H. In a machine of the class described,- the combination with a cutting die and a cutting block having formed therein a permanent die receiving groove shaped in contour and in section to fit the cutting edge of said die. of means for effecting a relative cutting movement of said block and said die,

cutting die having a cutting edge forming a closcd outline, a metal cutting block having a (be receiving groove formed by forcmg the cutting edge of said die mto the material of said block, and m'cans for ctl'ecting a relative cutting movement of said block and die constructed to cause said die to enter said groove but to stop short of the bottom thereof.

67. In a machine of the class described, cutting mechanism comprising a die, a metal block having formed therein a die receiving groove corresponding in contour to the contour ofthc cutting edge of said die, means for effecting a relative cutting movement of said die and said block, said die and block being adjustable relatively to each other, whereby the cutting edge of the die may be caused to enter a prwlctermined distance into the groove in said cutting block during the cutting operation.

(38. in a machine. of the class described, cutting means comprising a die, a die strippcr, and means for moving material to be cut into close pioxin'iity to said die, said. die stripper being provided vith a recess into which said means enters during its material feeding movement.

69. In av machine of theciass described,

. ing means are received during't operation. a a

cuttingmeans comprising a die, meaiasfor feeding material to be out to said die', a die stripper between said die and said feeding means, and means for moving the last end of the material into close proximity to the neareredge of the die, said last-mentioned means being inoperative during the normal material feedingoperations and said stripper being provided with a recess in which said means is received at such times. 1 70. In a machine of the class described,

- 1 cutting means comprising a die, a die strip point at which the feed roll operates uponsaid material. and the die, said lastmentioned means being normally inoperative and said roll and said stripper being provided with grooves in which said means is received when inoperative.

1'2. In amachine of the class described, cutting means, and (means comprising feed rolls for feeding material into position to be operated upon by said cutting means, and means extending between and beyond said feed rolls for supporting and guiding the material-fethsaid rolls being provided with recesses inwhieh said supporting and guidin means are received. v

. In a machine of the class described,

' the combination with cutting means, and

means comprising a feed roll for feeding material to be cut to said cutting means, of means, comprising aspring member extending past the point at which said roll engages the material, for guiding and. supporting the material fed, said roll being provided with a groove inwhich. said member is received. 5 I

7 4. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with cutting means, and means comprising feed rolls for feeding material to be cut to said cutting means, of means,

ing and guidingmeans'into engagement with I the oppos1te faces of said material.

extending-between and beyond said feed rolls toward said cutting-means, for supmeans for yieldinglypressing said support- '75. In a machine of the class described,

cutting means comprising a die, means compris ng a feedpoll for feeding material theside. bisaid feed roll remote from said the lead ng end of the material to said troll throu h die cut to said die, aidie stripper between San dieand said feeding means, and means, cgniprlsing it spring member supported upon die andextendin past said roll into proxiinitytosaid die, or supporting and guiding the material fed over said -stripper,'s'ai d cutting operation.

76. In a machine of the class, described f1 p feeding mechanismi comprising .a feed roll,

a stop for controllin 7 the presentation of the material to be fe ,tto' sacid feed roll and against which the end of said materialmay be thrust, said stop being located immediately adjacent to the po nt at which the feeding-surface of said roll engagesthe ma- I terial to feed it, and being movable out of" said location, while the material is held against it in order to permit the presentation 0 the material to the feeding mechanism,

and a guard in front of said feed roll eX-- tending'into close proximity to-the path of movement of the material and constructed to guide the'material to said step. I

77. That. improvement in the art of forming cutting blocks,'which consists in placing in a' cutting machine constructed to effect arelative cutting movementthereof a :die and a block having a plane surface of a material somewhat softer than the die but harder than the material. to be cut, then .eifecting arelative movement of said block andjsaid diesuch that the cutting edge of iziid-kdie is forced into the surface of said 7. That improvement in the art of reparing a cuttlng block for use in a mac ine in which the'block and 'a' cotiperatin'g die are moved relatively into andout of cutting relation to each other, which consists in lo,

eating in such a machine a die'and a block 1 having a die receiving face of material somewhat softer than the die but harder than the material to be cut, efi'ecting a relative movement of approach of said die and block such that the cutting edge of said die is forcedinto the surface ofsaicl block, adustin the limit of approach and repeat-' ing this operation unt l a die receivinggroove of the desired-depth has been obtained and' then adjust-ing the limit of approach so that said die --will enter said groove but will not strike-the bottom thereof. 79; Inwa machine of the class described,

the. combination with. cutting means and v porting and guldmgthe material fed, and

means comprising a feed roll for feeding material -to said..-cutting means, of a gate for controlling the ti me of presentation of Said gate-having an'extension projecting Ward and from the die; meansjfor feeding material between the cutting block and the die, a stripper positioned between said feeding means and the die and movable in directions transverse to the plane of the material, and a member arranged to engage in a slot in said stripper for guiding the material between the feeding means and the die.

81. In a machine of the class described, a stationary die, a cutting block movable te- Ward and from the die, feed rolls for feed ing material between the cutting block and the die, a stripper positioned between said rolls and the die and movable in directions transverse to the plane of the material, and a member extending through a slot in one of the feed rolls and movable with said stripper for guiding the material between the feed rolls and the die. n

82. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for cutting blanks from sheet material comprising a die, of a feed roll, means for imparting interinittent movements to said roll to't'eed the material to the blank cutting means, and means, operative in advance of the die, for slitting the material in parallel relation to the direction of feed during itsfced movement, said slitting means comprising a rotary cutter mounted to turn with the feed IOll.

83. In a machine of the class described,-

thecombination with cutting means, of means comprising a feed roll for, feeding material to said cutting means,-an edge guideior the material and means for slitting the material in parallel relation to the .l'irection of feed during its t'ecd movement, said slitting means comprising a rotary cutter mounted to turn with said roll and ad justable in the line of the axis of the roll and toward or from said edge guide for slittinp the material at different distances from it s edge.

H4. in a machine of the class described, the combination with cutting means, of means omprising a pair ol l ccd rolls 'l ()l' l'ccdiug material to said cutting means, an edge guide l'or the matcrial, and a pair of rotar disk cutters mounted coaxiallv with said l ced rolls in! slitting the material in parallel relation to said edge guide. said cutters being adjustable in the line of the axes of the rolls for slitting the material at different distances from said guide.

85. In a n achine ot' the class described,

the colnbination with cutting means, of' means -t'or feeding material'to said cutting means comprising a feed member and mechanism for operating said member. said mechanism including a gear wheel arranged for movement against yielding resistance in case the normal movement of said member is prevented.

86. In a machine of theclass described,

the combination with cutting means of means for feeding material to said cutting means comprisinga feed roll and mecha-' nism for imparting intermittent turning movements to said roll, said mechanism iiieluding a gear wheel and its shaft arranged for yielding movement. in the event of abnormal resistance to the turning movement of the roll. a i

87. In a machine of the class described,

a blank cutting die beveled on its outer surcutting edge of the die during; the cutting operation. and means iinlqiendent ot' the die for causing said gages to separate during said yielding nun'i-ment.

88. In a machine of the class described,

a blank cutting die beveled on its outer surface to'for n a cutting edggc. and a gage at one side of the die for locating anedge of the material close to the edge ot the die; said gage being cul'vcd in v transverse relation to the plane of the cutting edge of the die and movable transversely of said plane about. the axis of said curve in the cutting operation to cause the gage to recede laterall from the die during its movement.

In tcstinionv whereof I have si ned my name to this spcciliculion in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Wl LIJIAM BA X'll lil.

Witnesses W ll. Domini Hi-nsi'nic, FRANK i Amen. 

